bernake speech

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States and other countries must work together to right a skewed pattern of trade and investment around the globe, a move that would help worldwide economic stability, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested Tuesday.

So-called "global imbalances" occur when countries such as the U.S. run up bloated trade deficits, while other countries, such as China and oil-producing nations, produce big trade surpluses. The International Monetary Fund has been leading efforts over the years to reduce lopsided trade and investment patterns.

As for prospects of fixing the problem, Bernanke said, "Signs of progress have appeared but ... most countries have only just begun to undertake the policy changes that will ultimately be needed." He spoke at a conference in Berlin. Copies of his remarks were made available in Washington.

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Is this at all possible? What do other countries have to gain by importing inferior and costlier American products? If the US was the one with the huge trade surplus wouldn't everyone be thrilled?

[MrBlue]

Not everything we make is inferior! :P

I know most of South America have very high import taxes on electronics making things like iPods and xboxes extremely expensive and inaccessible for most people. If they lower some tariffs, maybe American companies can sell a few more.

[The once and future king]

[ QUOTE ]
Not everything we make is inferior! :P

I know most of South America have very high import taxes on electronics making things like iPods and xboxes extremely expensive and inaccessible for most people. If they lower some tariffs, maybe American companies can sell a few more.

[/ QUOTE ]?

Xboxes are made in the usa?

[MrBlue]

oops, didn't know Microsoft moved to china.

[The once and future king]

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oops, didn't know Microsoft moved to china.

[/ QUOTE ]

oops didnt realize head office and factory can be in different countries.

[technologic]

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[ QUOTE ]
oops, didn't know Microsoft moved to china.

[/ QUOTE ]

oops didnt realize head office and factory can be in different countries.

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this is a retarded statement. for all effective purposes, the xbox is obviously an american product.

[The once and future king]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
oops, didn't know Microsoft moved to china.

[/ QUOTE ]

oops didnt realize head office and factory can be in different countries.

[/ QUOTE ]

this is a retarded statement. for all effective purposes, the xbox is obviously an american product.

[/ QUOTE ]

I asked if xboxes are made in USA genuine question and get a sarcastic retarded answer so I gave another sarcastic retarded answer back.

However saying that there is no economic difference between an Xbox made in USA and one made in China etc and imported is totally incorrect.

[DcifrThs]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
oops, didn't know Microsoft moved to china.

[/ QUOTE ]

oops didnt realize head office and factory can be in different countries.

[/ QUOTE ]

this is a retarded statement. for all effective purposes, the xbox is obviously an american product.

[/ QUOTE ]

I asked if xboxes are made in USA genuine question and get a sarcastic retarded answer so I gave another sarcastic retarded answer back.

However saying that there is no economic difference between an Xbox made in USA and one made in China etc and imported is totally incorrect.

[/ QUOTE ]

doug didn't say "there is no economic difference"

he said "the xbox is effectively made in the US"

big difference, DUCY?

Barron

[CrushinFelt]

haha, this turned into a thread about the xbox

As for the questions in the OP, there's basically no way America will turn into a nation with a trade surplus... we have nothing to trade. If we are producing products more cheaply than the rest of the world, our economy either got screwed horrendously along the way (and thus we are wiling to worker for less $ than others) or there was some amazing technological invention for every labor-produced product (no longer needed the cheap labor, and the new machines produced their products in the US).

[The once and future king]

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the xbox is obviously an american product.

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Does not equal

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"the xbox is effectively made in the US"

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DUCY?

However this is a pointless exercise. Indigenous intellectual ownership of brands are not important to surplus or deficit. If you disagree, please name me one popular brand of Chinese consumer electronics, cars or white goods.